28 Oct 2013 at 20:05 | Published by: Freebird | Views: 18218 | News search

Olivia receives the championship trophies from Marion Hartley (Hastings Adventure Golf)  (Photo by Marion Homer, KMGC)

The eleventh-annual World Crazy Golf Championship took place at the Hastings seafront Adventure Golf Complex in Hastings, East Sussex on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October. 78 players from across England, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Portugal braved the Hastings weather to compete in the two-day event that was won by Olivia Prokopova from the Czech Republic.

The tournament saw the players compete, in possibly the most extreme weather conditions yet experienced at the competition over the 10 years it has been played, across six qualifying rounds on the 18-hole Hastings Crazy Golf course before a cut was made and the top 18 players went on to contest the final round. Olivia, who has played in the event since 2003 when she was only 8 years old, won the tournament finishing an incredible 21 shots clear of runner-up Sean Homer. the Captain of the Kent Mini Golf Club, achieving a career high finish in a BMGA Major. In third-place was the Finland's Pasi Aho, another veteran of the event. Also in the prize money placings were Marc Chapman, Michael Smith (the 2 time champion), Tony Kelly and Chris Harding (also a 2 time champion at the World Crazies).

Stephen Langford won the World Crazy Golf Championship Novice Category prize for the second year in a row, finishing in 8th place overall.

Ireland’s David Donnelly won the inaugural Aces Trophy - the Gommery (donated and presented by Liz and Dave Gomm) - for being the highest placed player outside of the top 18 finalist scoring the most holes-in-one at the event with a total of 16 during rounds one to six.

Saturday evening also saw the biggest HOLE IN ONE Challenge of the season with over 50 players taking part at the notoriously tough hole 2 on the course. Players paid £1 for one shot at aceing the hole, with 50% of the entry fees goong towards our nominated charity for 2013 - Cancer Research - and the remainder split between any players who got a hole in one. In a thrilling climax to day 1, Martin Greenhead managed to bang in an ace an scoop the prize fund. This season the players taking part in these challenges and the Players Championship have raised £199 for the charity - a brilliant effort by all concerned.

Sean Homer, Chairman of the British Minigolf Association said “It was a brilliant event and the spirit among the players during what were some of the harshest weather conditions i've seen in 8 years on the tour was incredible. I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the players, organisers, scorers, referees, helpers and supporters who took part in the weekend, along with all the team at Hastings Adventure Golf - it's all of you that make the event such a special part of the BMGA tour and such a great competition every year. I look forward to seeing everyone again next year - hopefully without the particularly 'crazy' weather we had this time!”

World Crazy Golf Championship Roll of Honour:

• 2013 Olivia Prokopova (CZE)
• 2012 Michael Smith (ENG)
• 2011 Michael Smith (ENG)
• 2010 Chris Harding (ENG)
• 2009 Keith Kellard (ENG)
• 2008 Tim Davies (WAL)
• 2007 Chris Harding (ENG)
• 2006 Tim Davies (WAL)
• 2005 Tim Davies (WAL)
• 2004 Tim Davies (WAL)
• 2003 Tim Davies (WAL)

The next event on the tour is the Kent Open at the Lost Island Encounter course in Sidcup on Sunday 10th November. All players taking part receive the Official Kent Open ball included in their entry fee and full details of the competition can be found on the Kent Minigolf Club website

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) is the governing body for Minigolf Sport, including Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf. Formed in 1998 the BMGA organises Minigolf competitions for its members across the UK.

Hastings Adventure Golf on the town’s seafront is home to three 18-hole Miniature Golf courses. Hastings Adventure Golf has been the home venue for the World Crazy Golf Championship since the tournament began in 2003. Castle Golf produces quality Adventure Golf courses throughout the World.

SHARE Share Tweet